Structure for hanging meat such as belly and/or pieces of bacon

ABSTRACT

A support hook for moving meat, more specifically for pieces or cubes of bacon/belly during the processing and/or curing thereof. This type of hook is generally called comb or bacon comb. The hook ( 100, 200 ) includes a framework ( 101, 201 ) and a plurality of tips ( 102, 202 ). The plurality of tips ( 102 ) are integral with the respective framework ( 101, 201 ) via respective heads ( 109, 110 ) and ( 209, 210 ) arranged on both sides and the holes ( 106, 206 ) of the framework ( 101, 201 ). Each tip ( 102, 202 ) can thus be inserted and interchanged even at a later time, if it should be broken or chipped.

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION The present invention refers to a support hook for moving meat, more specifically for pieces or cubes of bacon/belly during the processing and/or curing thereof.

The meat is first treated with salt, sugars, preservatives (nitrates and/or nitrites) and often spices, for a period of several days, as a function of the size of the piece.

Subsequently, the bacon can be further cured, or smoked.

STATE OF THE ART

Generally, the cuts of meat for bacon are processed and moved via suspension, on suitable hooks, for a predetermined time period and in a suitable processing zone.

The hooks for bacon and belly known up to now are devices comprising a plurality of pointed prongs or tips arranged on a same plane, like a comb, mounted on a suitably-shaped base framework in order to engage an elevated rail or the like.

Generally, the hooks are constructed in a manner such that the teeth or prongs can be easily inserted in the relatively softer zone of the meat along the upper ends; it is sufficient to press the prongs into the same zone.

Also known are monolithic structures, hooks constituted by a single solid piece of material from which a corresponding plurality of prongs are obtained via forging, such prongs spaced for the insertion in pork belly during movement and/or transformation.

DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE FINDING

A general object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure for handling meat, in particular pork belly and/or bacon, during the slaughtering and subsequent handling and processing operations.

A further object of the invention is to obtain an improved structure for hanging meat, having the teeth independent and interchangeable with each other, also with respect to the support hook or element.

Another object of the invention is to obtain a structure that is inexpensive and at the same time resistant.

Said objects and advantages are all achieved by the structure for hanging meat such as belly and/or pieces of bacon, object of the present finding, which is characterized for that provided in the below-reported claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

This and other characteristics will be clearer from the following description of several embodiments that are illustrated, as merely non-limiting example, in the enclosed set of drawings.

FIG. 1: illustrates a structure for hanging meat such as belly and/or pieces of bacon, according to a first embodiment,

FIG. 2: illustrates a structure for hanging meat such as belly and/or pieces of bacon, according to a second embodiment,

FIG. 3: illustrates a structure for hanging meat such as belly and/or pieces of bacon, object of the finding, with tips arranged on multiple different levels,

FIG. 4: a detail of the positioning of the tip with respect to the base of the hook, according to one embodiment,

FIG. 5: a detail of the positioning of the tip with respect to the base of the hook, according to a further embodiment.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

With particular reference to FIG. 1, a first embodiment is illustrated of a support hook for processing meat, in particular belly or bacon.

It is indicated overall with the reference number 100.

The hook 100 is essentially constituted by a base framework 101 adapted to support a series of tips 102.

A part 103 of the framework 101 acts as a grip for grasping the hook 100.

The tips 102 are all directed in the same sense.

A curved portion 104 is hook-shaped in a manner such that it is suitable to hook with a guideway, rod, rack or frame.

The framework 101 is coplanar and the tips 102 are all extended over a same portion 101 b in a manner such that they are themselves coplanar.

Specifically, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, hubs 105 are obtained in the terminal portion 101 b; such hubs 105 are provided with through hole 106 within which a relative tip 102 is inserted.

The hub 105, but above all the axis of the hole 106 adapted to receive the relative tip 102, is arranged at 75° with respect to the planar surface of the framework 101. In general, the above-indicated angle can be comprised in an interval between 60° and 80°.

The plurality of tips 102 are integral in the respective hole 106 and hence with the respective framework 101 by means of respective heads 109, 110 arranged on both sides of the framework 101 itself.

Each tip 102 is locked in the respective seat, i.e. the hole 106, by means of heads 109, 110 and these heads can be obtained with:

-   -   Cold or hot deformation processes. The object is to create a         head 109 and a counter-head 110 on both sides of the hub 105.     -   An element or nut screwable on a corresponding threaded portion         of one end of the tip 102 itself.     -   The combination of a threaded and screwable nut 110 and a         riveting 109 obtained via plastic deformation of the tip itself.

Preferably, between said heads 109 and 110 and the relative face of the hub 105, respective washers 106 and 107 are interposed.

Each tip 102 can thus be inserted and interchanged even at a later time, if it should be broken or chipped.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

With particular reference to FIGS. 2, 8, 9, 10, and 11, a first embodiment is illustrated of a support hook for processing meat, in particular belly or bacon.

This is indicated overall with the reference number 200.

The hook 200 is essentially constituted by a base framework 201 adapted to support a series of tips 202.

A part 203 of the framework 201 acts as a grip for grasping hook 200.

The tips 202 are all directed in the same sense.

A curved portion 204 is hook-shaped in a manner such that it is suitable to hook with a guideway, rod, rack or frame.

The framework 201 is only partly coplanar, indeed its base portion 201 b, portion 201 b on which the tips 202 are inserted, is bent on one side by about 15° , generically between 10° and 25°.

The tips 202 are extended from the base in a manner such that they are all coplanar. The tips are inserted in holes 206. With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, it is observed that the tips 202 are extended from said portion 201 b in a manner so as to be perpendicular to the latter portion 201 b, in turn bent.

As in the previous embodiment, each tip 202 is locked in the respective seat, i.e. the hole 206, by means of, for example, cold or hot deformation processes, riveting or clinching.

The object is still that of creating a head 209 and a counter-head 210 on both sides of the framework 201.

Each tip 202 can thus be inserted and interchanged even at a later time, if it should be broken or chipped.

For both embodiments, the frameworks 101, 201 are made of plastic material (nylon) or stainless steel, and the tips 102, 202 as well as made of stainless steel or plastic material.

In the two illustrated embodiments, the tips 102 and 202 are aligned with each other on a same line, thus arranged on a same level.

Without departing from the protective scope, as is also illustrated in FIG. 3, it is also possible to have a hook comprising a plurality of tips 102, 202 arranged on different levels L1 and L2, as illustrated.

In any case, it is intended that that described above has exemplifying and non-limiting value; therefore, possible detail variations that would be necessary for technical and/or functional reasons are considered henceforth falling within the same protective scope defined by the below-reported claims. 

1. A hook for supporting meat, including belly or bacon, comprising; a framework with i) a planar upper portion having a curved portion suitable to hook with a guideway, a rod, a rack or a frame, and ii) an adjoining planar base portion having aligned plural holes that define two levels of plural holes, the framework having a first side and an opposite second side, each hole being a through hole extend from the first side to the opposite second side, wherein an angle between a planar surface of the upper portion and a planar surface of the base portion is between 10° and 25°; a plurality of tips arranged as two spaced-apart rows of tips, each said tip having a threaded end portion extending through and being seated in and locked in a seat of a respective one of the holes in said framework and extending away from the first side of the base portion, wherein an axis of each tip is perpendicular to the planar surface of the base portion, and wherein a first set of said tips are coplanar along a first upper plane and the axis of the tips, and a second set of said tips are coplanar along a second lower plane and the axis of the tips, such that the first and second sets of tips define the two spaced-apart rows of tips for use entering into the belly or the bacon; and retaining elements located on at least one side of the base portion at each of the tips, the retaining elements locking the threaded end portion of the tips in the seat of each respective hole against the base portion.
 2. The hook according to claim 1, wherein, each hole extends through a hub that extends from a planar surface of the base portion, and each tip extends through a respective one of the hubs and a respective one of the holes. 3-4. (canceled)
 5. The hook according to claim 2, further comprising a washer interposed between each hub and respective tip.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The hook according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the planar surface of the upper portion and the planar surface of the base portion is between 10° and 15°.
 8. (canceled)
 9. The hook according to claim 1, wherein, each retaining element includes a first portion located on the first side of the base portion and a second portion located on the second side of the base portion, the first and second portions together locking each tip against the first side of the base portion, each first portion of the retaining element being a nut screwed on a terminal end part of the threaded end portion of each tip, each tip being removable from the base portion by removal of at least the nut from the terminal end part of the threaded end portion of each tip.
 10. The hook according to claim 1, wherein, each retaining element is located on the first side of the base portion, and each retaining element is a nut screwable on a corresponding a terminal end part of the threaded end portion of each tip such that the nut locks the tip against the first side of the base portion while allowing the tip to be removable from the base portion should the tip be broken or chipped. 11-12. (canceled)
 13. The hook according to claim 1, wherein upper and base portions are stainless steel.
 14. (canceled)
 15. A hook for supporting belly and bacon, comprising; a stainless steel framework with i) a planar upper portion having a curved portion suitable to hook with a guideway, a rod, a rack or a frame, and ii) an adjoining planar base portion, the framework having a first side and an opposite second side, an angle between a planar surface of the upper portion and a planar surface of the base portion being between 10° and 25°; a plurality of tips, each tip having a threaded end portion extending through and being seated in and locked in a seat in said framework and extending away from the first side of the base portion, an axis of each tip being perpendicular to the planar surface of the base portion; and retaining elements locking the threaded end portion of the tips in each respective seat against the base portion, each retaining element comprising a nut screwable on a corresponding a terminal end part of a threaded portion of one end of each tip such that the nut locks the tip in the seat against the first side of the base portion while allowing the tip to be removable from the base portion should the tip be broken or chipped by removal of the nut from a terminal end part of the threaded portion of each tip.
 16. (canceled)
 17. The hook according to claim 15, wherein a first set of the tips are aligned in a first line and coplanar along the axis of each tip of the first set of tips, and a second set of the tips are aligned in a second line and coplanar along the axis of each tip of the second set of tips such that the tips are arranged along two different levels defined by the first and second lines.
 18. A hook for supporting belly and bacon, comprising: a framework with i) a planar upper portion having a curved portion suitable to hook with a guideway, a rod, a rack or a frame, and ii) an adjoining planar base portion having aligned plural holes that define two spaced apart lines of holes, the framework having a first side and an opposite second side, each hole being a through hole extend from the first side to the opposite second side, wherein an angle between a planar surface of the upper portion and a planar surface of the base portion is between 10° and 15°; and a plurality of tips, one end of each said tip having a threaded end portion extending through and seated in and locked in a respective one of said holes in said framework and extending away from the first side of the base portion, an axis of each tip being perpendicular to the planar surface of the base portion, wherein a first set of said tips are coplanar to the axis of the tips along a first upper plane defining a first line of tips and, and a second set of said tips are coplanar to the axis of the tips along a second lower plane defining a second line of tips, such that the first and second sets of tips define two spaced-apart lines of tips arranged at different levels defined by the first and second lines; and retaining elements locking the threaded end portion of the tips in each respective hole against the base portion, wherein, each retaining element includes a first portion located on the first side of the base portion and a second portion located on the second side of the base portion, the first and second portions together locking each tip against both the first and second sides of the base portion, each first portion of the retaining element being a nut screwed on a terminal end part of the threaded end portion of each tip, each tip being removable from the base portion by removal of the nut from the terminal end part of the threaded end portion of each tip.
 19. The hook according to claim 18, wherein, the framework is stainless steel.
 20. (canceled) 